Seven Years of This Stuff

Dentist as Mulch at last night's CoolDad Music 7th Anniversary Party.

Lucky 7

On March 5th, 2012, I turned on the lights here at CoolDad Music. The first post, as I've mentioned many times in this space, was a review of a show at The Stone Pony featuring Titus Andronicus, Screaming Females, and Diarrhea Planet. Over the last seven years, I haven't quite risen to Pitchfork or Stereogum levels in the music blogosphere. I'm not even sure how much "bigger" the site is today than it was in that first year. And, sometimes, I'll admit that I kick myself for not working harder to grow CoolDad Music into something "more." Most of the time, though, I marvel at what CoolDad Music has become for me.

Didn't have a camera at The Pony, but here is one of my earliest shots of Screaming Females from Asbury Lanes in 2013.

I've made my very best friends in the world through this site. I've gotten to know and to spend time with people who make music and art that is meaningful to me. I've ventured to places like Los Angeles, Austin, and Japan to cover and experience music. I've been approached by strangers who tell me that what I do here has introduced them to new music or just helped them find a good show.

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives in Tokyo, Japan

It's no secret that the last year and a half has leveled me. Running CoolDad Music, though, has given me at least some focus. Three days after my brother was killed, I was taking pictures and sweating and crying with The RockNRoll Hi-Fives and A Giant Dog. A few days after I found out that my dad was dying of cancer, I was singing with Dentist and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. During the weeks that my dad was in and out of the hospital, I covered shows by CDM OGs Screaming Females and Titus Andronicus; and, about two weeks after we lost him, I was at Asbury Park Brewery with a lump in my throat as Shellshag performed "Carry On." I don't know if I would have pulled myself up and dragged myself out the door to any of these shows if I didn't have the site as an excuse. And I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't.

A Giant Dog at Monty Hall in Jersey City

Titus Andronicus at House of Independents

Shellshag at our 5th Anniversary party in 2017.

Anyway...

Thank you to anyone who's spent any time here over the last seven years. If you ever see me in the real world, please come say hello. It's always nice to meet the people who are sharing this experience with me.

Thank you to all of the venues, past and present, who have supported the site by letting me in to cover shows and take way too many pictures. I still have a lot to learn about live music photography, and you are my classroom.

Beach Slang from the last night at Asbury Lanes in October, 2015.

Thank you to my fellow bloggers. You've turned me onto some of my favorite things, and some of you have acted as excellent sounding boards during those times when I doubted whether it was even worth it to continue with this thing.

Thank you to anyone who's ever contributed to CoolDad Music. It's been the diversity of your voices that's kept things fresh around here and pushed me to try new things.

Deerhunter by contributor, Rose Lamela.

Thank you to all of the artists and labels who continue to put out the music that inspires me. I know that the music business can beat you down sometimes; but I want you to know that there are people in the world whose lives you've changed, or even saved, through your art.

Little Dickman Records

Renee Maskin at the CoolDad Music / Little Dickman holiday benefit in 2015

The Battery Electric at Asbury Lanes in 2015

Thank you to my family for supporting me in the time and money suck that is CoolDad Music. Your understanding and support is a gift I try to repay every day.

Here's to another seven years at CoolDad Music. I'll do my best to keep things fresh around here. I'll always be honest with you. We've never featured a sponsored post, a payola review, or anything like that here; and I don't plan to start. I'm truly sorry if I don't respond to all of your submissions and requests. That isn't always easy since I'm just one person, but I do read everything that comes in.

Yawn Mower at last night's 7th Anniversary Party

Spain's FAVX at last night's 7th Anniversary Party

That's about it, I guess. Stay tuned for coverage from Austin. We're gonna try to make that bigger and better than ever before this year. Onward and upward.

If you want, you can follow CoolDad Music on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Peace.